The Music Notes Thread #1 For 12/10/12 (Final Version): The Glaring Problem For Today's Artists
An image of now late singer Jenni Rivera (Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Now the Somalian-Canadian artist, now based in Manhattan, has publicly talked about how music execs were hoping that it was his best interest to water down his real music so 15-year-old American girls could be his 4th CD, Country, God or The Girl.
Over breakfast in SoHo, we talked about how to keep my new American audience growing. My lyrics should change, my label’s executives said; radio programmers avoid subjects too far from fun and self-absorption.
And for the first time, I felt the affliction of success. When I walked away from the table, there were bruises on the unheard lyrics of my yet-to-be-born songs. A question had raised its hand in the quiet of my soul: What do you do after success? What must you do to keep it?
If this was censorship, I thought, it was a new kind — one I had to do to myself. The label wasn’t telling me what to do. No, it was just giving me choices and information, about my audience — 15-year-old American girls, mostly, who knew little of Somalia. How much better to sing them songs about Americans.Which America girls I wonder where those execs referring to? And do those execs honestly believe that 15-year-olds are the only ones interested in buying CDs or singles still today?
That they are too stupid to actually know what is quality, original music conveying real life and what is the same standard crap from the same producers and song writers making mainstream American music even more homogenous now then it's ever been?
The foolish decisions at the top in certain spots in this country is just so sad.
Now CBC Radio's Matt Galloway raised a great question on Twitter, on whether K'naan would have written this if his current third album sold well here in America, and it actually led to K'Naan replying to him and fine Canadian music interviewer Jian Ghomeshi in a candid fashion about his changes.
I hope he would have too, as well as any artist encouraged or forced to change their style because of music execs' pressure. This executives need to understand that rappers and other music artists not requiring the services of a songwriter don't have a problem making one or two songs that could be massive singles for anyone to play, so as long as they are given freedom to say whatever they want to the rest of their album or mixtapes.
Unfortunately, executives who have no semblance of ever making a record themselves or any type of music get scared or angry because one song could really make them and their friends at the top so uncomfortable. It's so sad.
The Runthrough
Major condolences for Jenni Rivera. Wonderful lady who overcame her own issues of domestic violence, and to have to die like that is harrowing. Not being in control of your destiny is life's roughest challenge.
The Game is really still trying. He might as well just rely on that reality show.
After appearing on Saturday Night Live with jamie Foxx (more on that later), 2Chainz gives relationship advice. Yup, you read right.
For fans of Beck, here's news on him.
Rob Kardashian's favorite person in the world has out a new song.
Just to let you know, I still haven't look at the Grammy award nominations.
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